Attorney named to panel representing death-row inmates

Published: Friday, January 24, 2014 at 3:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 24, 2014 at 3:20 p.m.

A Tampa attorney that has personally worked on the post-conviction cases of two local inmates on death row has been appointed as the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel for the Middle Region, which includes Marion County.

Before the Jan. 10 appointment by Gov. Rick Scott, James Viggiano, 57, had been working as the chief assistant for the office. The Capital Collateral Region Counsel represents death row inmates in their post-conviction proceedings.

Viggiano is currently acting as co-standby counsel for Renaldo McGirth, 25, who was sentenced to death in 2008 by Circuit Judge Brian Lambert for his role in the 2006 murder of Villages resident Diana Miller, 63.

Viggiano has also worked on the post-conviction proceedings for Loran Cole, 47, sentenced to death in 1995 by Circuit Judge William T. Swigert for the death of John Edwards, 18, who at the time was on a camping trip with his sister Pam in the Ocala National Forest.

Viggiano’s office has also been assigned to the case of William Kopsho, 60, who testified during his own trial, detailing how he killed his wife, Lynn, 21, off State Road 40 in 2000.

Before working for the Regional Counsel, Viggiano worked from 2001 to 2002 as an assistant public defender for the 5th Judicial Circuit which services Lake, Hernando, Sumter, Marion and Citrus counties. He also served as a partner with Pickard and Viggiano from 1991 to 1997. Prior to that, Viggiano worked as an Assistant State Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit. He received his bachelor’s degree from the College of New Jersey, his master’s degree from Golden Gate University and his law degree from Rutgers University.

Contact April Warren at 867-4065 or april.warren@ocala.com. Follow her on Twitter @ajtwarren.

<p>A Tampa attorney that has personally worked on the post-conviction cases of two local inmates on death row has been appointed as the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel for the Middle Region, which includes Marion County.</p><p>Before the Jan. 10 appointment by Gov. Rick Scott, James Viggiano, 57, had been working as the chief assistant for the office. The Capital Collateral Region Counsel represents death row inmates in their post-conviction proceedings.</p><p>Viggiano is currently acting as co-standby counsel for Renaldo McGirth, 25, who was sentenced to death in 2008 by Circuit Judge Brian Lambert for his role in the 2006 murder of Villages resident Diana Miller, 63.</p><p>Viggiano has also worked on the post-conviction proceedings for Loran Cole, 47, sentenced to death in 1995 by Circuit Judge William T. Swigert for the death of John Edwards, 18, who at the time was on a camping trip with his sister Pam in the Ocala National Forest.</p><p>Viggiano's office has also been assigned to the case of William Kopsho, 60, who testified during his own trial, detailing how he killed his wife, Lynn, 21, off State Road 40 in 2000.</p><p>Before working for the Regional Counsel, Viggiano worked from 2001 to 2002 as an assistant public defender for the 5th Judicial Circuit which services Lake, Hernando, Sumter, Marion and Citrus counties. He also served as a partner with Pickard and Viggiano from 1991 to 1997. Prior to that, Viggiano worked as an Assistant State Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit. He received his bachelor's degree from the College of New Jersey, his master's degree from Golden Gate University and his law degree from Rutgers University. </p><p>Contact April Warren at 867-4065 or april.warren@ocala.com. Follow her on Twitter @ajtwarren.</p>